William Klein

Klein’s reputation as one of the 20th century’s most influential photographers was cemented with the publication of his first photo book, New York (1956). In this ground-breaking work, Klein virtually invented the genre of street photography, capturing raw, visceral images of New York’s streets using a wide-angle lens. His approach was fast, frenetic, and fearless, as he snapped intimate portraits of strangers, often blurring the lines between chance and intention. “I’d rush into crowds—bang! Bang! I liked the idea of luck and taking a chance.”